A historical overview of political events in Illinois that led to the establishment and implementation of a performance accountability system, school report cards, is presented in this report. The discussion shows that although statewide events influenced policymakers, local conditions and ethos also affected the result. The educational establishment opposed the initiative, arguing that it encouraged comparison among schools. Proponents included public groups, who based their arguments on the public's right to know and the need for uniform data and accountability. A conclusion is that although school report cards have been perceived as political symbols in response to public criticism of the schools, they have restructuring potential to provide rich data and information on student needs. The appendix contains a list of states with report cards or plans for implementation and a copy of the accountability amendment to the Illinois School Code. (13 references) (LMI)